RBI's Retail Direct Scheme is now live!

For the first time, retail buyers will now get an on-tap availability to sovereign bond market. In a virtual conference today, PM Narendra Modi announced the launch of RBI Retail Direct Scheme - a one-stop solution to facilitate investment in government securities by individual investors. About the scheme The RBI Retail Direct facility was first announced by RBI in February. Through this scheme, individuals will have an online access to the government securities (G-secs) market - both primary and secondary (through RBI's trading platform called Negotiated Dealing System-Order Matching Segment, or NDS-OM) - along with the facility to open their gilt securities account ('Retail Direct') with the RBI. The portal will allow individuals to invest in central government securities, treasury bills, sovereign gold bonds and state development loans. Until now, while retail investors could invest in G-secs indirectly through debt mutual funds, there was no direct avenue available. They could only buy such bonds through other intermediaries or stock exchanges. So, the new scheme is definitely an interesting avenue. Registration under the scheme To be able to buy a